Batch blender



Sept 12, 1967 B, H. BERGSTROM ETAL 3,34L83 BATCH BLENDER Filed Aug. 22, 1966 United States Patent O 3,341,183 BATCH BLENDER Bertil H. Bergstrom, Milwaukee, Walter W. Edens, Wauwatosa, and Eugene Revolinsky, Milwaukee, Wis., as-

signors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company,

Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 573,966 4 Claims. (Cl. 259-89) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mixing container having a splitting bridge at its midportion to cause a separation and remixing of a batch of material in the container as both the splitting bridge and container are rotated.

This invention pertains to mixing machines or blenders and more particularly to that type of machine referred to as a batch blender. A batch blender, as opposed to a continuous blender receives a charge of the material to be blended and the material is then acted upon -in some manner by the blender to cause a mixing of that particular charge. After the charge has been mixed, the blender is emptied and an additional charge is put into the blender.

Most batch blenders are -composed of a drum o-r container into which the charge is placed. The container is then rotated causing the charge to be mixed. With applicants invention, a splitting bridge is provided in the container in a manner to divide the interior of the container into compartments. As the container is rotated, the charge falls from one compartment to the other passing through the splitting bridge. This causes a mechanical splitting of the material insuring a more complete blending in a shorter period of time.

It is therefore a general object of the subject invention to provide a blender of the hereinbefore described type which perm-its ka more thorough mixing of the material in a shorter period of time than was possible in the prior art.

An `additional object of the subject invention is to provide a batch blender of the hereinbefore described type wherein the interior of the blender is divided into two compartments separated by a splitting element.

A more lspecific object of the subject invention is to provide a batch blender of the hereinbefore described type wherein the splitting element causes the material being mixed to separate and flow in opposite directions. v

A further specific object of the subject invention is to provide a batch blender of the hereinbefore described type wherein the splitting element causes the material to flow in an axial -direction relative to the rotating axis of the blender.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in light of the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation partially in cross section showing a blender constructed in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of the blender of the subject invention partially broken away to show the splitting element.

Referring to the attached drawing, the batch blender of the subject invention is composed of a container generally designated 6. This container may be constructed in any convenient shape and is herein shown as being composed of two facing obelisk sections 7 and 8, joined together by a relatively short rectangular section 9. Opposite ends of each Obelisk section 7'and 8 may be provided with removable covers 11 and 12 respectively for ice charging and emptying the container. These covers may be attached in any convenient manner and are herein shown as being attached to the container by means of cap screws 13. It is understood that only one cover would be adequate without departing from the spirit of the -invention.

In the preferred embodiment shown herein for purposes of illustration, the axis of rotation of the blender is vthrough the geometric center of the container. For this purpose a pair of stub shafts 14 and 16 are rigidly connected to opposite sides of the rectangular section 9 of the blender. The opposite ends of the stub shafts 14 and 16 extend outwardly and may be supported in a bearing arrangement of any conventional form. A means for imparting rotation to the blender is provided at the end of one stub shaft 16 in the form of a V-belt sheave 18. It should be understood that other drive means may be employed such as a chain and sprocket.

The splitting bridge 17 may be fitted into the rectangular section of the container in any convenient manner to fasten it to the container yet permit easy removal for cleaning. To this end the splitting bridge of this embodiment has transversely extending bars 15 attached to opposite ends of the bridge. These bars 15 t into grooves 20 formed on the interior surface of opposite side walls of the rectangular section 9. With this arrangement the splitting bridge may -be easily removed for cleaning.

The splitting bridge is composed of a plurality of deecting members 19. As best shown in FIG. 2, these deflecting members may be constructed in a form of a trough having side portions thereon to prohibit lateral sliding of the material from the trough. This is not how- -ever a necessary feature of the invention as the deflecting members may be fiat without the side portions. In the preferred embodiment shownvherein for purposes of illustration, the deflecting members 19 alternately slope in opposite directions at an angle other than with the axis of rotation with the blender.

In operation a charge of the material to be blended is put into the container 6 through one of the openings. The cover 11 then is replaced and the blender is rotated by means of the sheave 18. As the container rotates the material falls down onto the troughlike deflectors 19 causing a portion .to flow in one axial direction and a portion to ow in the opposite axial direction. This splitting of the material insures that pockets of unmixed material do not form.

An additional advantage of the subject invention is that the deecting means are so positioned that the material flows in an axial direction. This has the tendency to cause the material to ow in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the material tends to flow due to the rotation of the container. As the container is revolved, the material has the tendency to How in Ia direction transverse to the axis. By positioning the deflecting means in the direction shown, the material is caused to change its direction as it falls through the splitting bridge and flow in an axial direction thereby further prohibiting 'any possibility of pockets of unmixed material being formed.

From the above description, it can be seen that an improved type of batch blender has been described. This lbatchblender permits a more thorough mixing of material in a shorter period of time than is possible in -blenders known to the prior art.

Although only one embodiment of the subject invention is herein shown and described, other embodiments will be suggested to those skilled in the art after reading this description, `and it is intended that all such embodiments as come within a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims be covered.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A blender for mixing material comprising: a container having a selectively closable opening for the material to be mixed; means for mounting said container `for rotation about an axis; a splitting bridge supported within said container in a position dividing said container into compartments on opposite sides of said bridge, said bridge having a plurality of oppositely directed deecting means disposed at angles other than 90 with said axis and defining material passageways between said compartments; yand means for rotating said `container and said bridge.

2. The blender set forth in claim 1 wherein said splitting bridge is aligned with said axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,210 6/1954 Schaefer 259-82 3,095,185 6/1963 Smalley 259-82 3,288,441 11/1966 Bertstrom 259-3 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BLENDER FOR MIXING MATERIAL COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING A SELECTIVELY CLOSABLE OPENING FOR THE MATERIAL TO BE MIXED; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CONTAINER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS; A SPLITTING BRIDGE SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER IN A POSITION DIVIDING SAID CONTAINER INTO COMPARTMENTS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BRIDGE, SAID BRIDGE HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPPOSITELY DIRECTED DEFLECTING MEANS DISPOSED AT ANGLES OTHER THAN 90* WITH SAID AXIS AND DEFINING MATERIAL PASSAGEWAYS BETWEEN SAID COMPARTMENTS; AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTAINER AND SAID BRIDGE. 